Legends of Japan: Genichiro Tenryu

Though most fans would likely point to this man being a legend in the rival Japanese promotion to New Japan Pro-Wrestling called All Japan Pro-Wrestling. Tenryu did become a borderline "Icon" in All Japan or maybe he did reach such status starting his career with the company in the late 1970's after being scouted by Giant Baba himself. Much like many other of his countrymen early on his career Tenryu was sent on excursion to Texas spending time in Amarillo and then later to the Carolinas to work with JCP. Following his return to Japan his road to superstardom would begin and in many ways his first milestone came in 1989 when the feud he would be most known for began. As starting in the spring of 1989 the iconic feud between Jumbo Tsuruta and Tenryu would begin over the AJPW Triple Crown title and in many ways the rest would be history.

His biggest accomplishments stateside were with the WWF as he competed in two Royal Rumbles & he was actually on the team that defeat Demolition in their last Tag Match at WrestleMania VII. However, in his career Tenryu would also become known for being a promoter as he opened Super World of Sports in 1990. One thing the company was famous for was having a rare working agreement with Vince McMahon who was very picky about working or even mentioning other companies. But the success of SWS didn't last and it was out of business by 1992. Soon after he would move on and open Wrestling and Romance or WAR in actually the same year that SWS collapsed which was 1992. In 1998, WAR began a decline and this saw Tenryu attempt a comeback to one of the bigger companies, but it wasn't All Japan this time. 

In the late spring 1998, Genichiro Tenryu would show up in New Japan and with the help of Shiro Koshinaka would become IWGP Tag Team Champion soon after his arrival. The next year we would see Tenryu become the first native to win both the IWGP Heavyweight title and AJPW Triple Crown title defeating Great Muta in December 1999. Even though his run with New Japan was short he would return one more time to NJPW before retiring setting up his retirement match in November 2015 with then champion Okada. Overall it is hard disputing Genichiro Tenryu's standing in the world of pro-wrestling as one of the greatest performers to ever put on the boots in not just Japan but the world.